Fulton Hogan is pioneering new ways to harness Virtual Reality
technology to enable teams to practise new skills in a more
realistic manner – and learn from mistakes without compromising safety.

VR technology minimises the risks of training in a ‘live’ situation
while giving employees plenty of hands-on experience.

A finalist at the 2017 New Zealand Innovation Awards,
Fulton Hogan’s Virtual Reality Training for its ‘Boil Out’ procedure is
helping the company upskill its people in a protected training
environment. This is also the first time VR has been used in
New Zealand’s construction industry.

The Boil Out procedure involves decontaminating
bitumen sprayers and tankers if water has been present. The unintended
mixing of water and bitumen is a common cause of accidents associated
with the use of hot bitumen. If a serious boil over is not handled
properly, bitumen can be sprayed with considerable force over a wide
area.

Using the VR Boil Out app, which was developed
together with Corvecto, Fulton Hogan’s VR training gives employees the
ability to virtually perform the high-risk Boil Out procedure
step-by-step, and experience the harmful consequences of any mistakes
made – all while in a safe environment.

Fulton Hogan Innovation Manager Chloe Smith says:
“You actually feel like you are standing on top of the tank, looking
down from a height. Along with this the sound effects are so realistic
you really do feel like you are physically present in the scenario.”

When mistakes are made, employees are virtually
transported to a room where a screen outlines the errors they made and
the steps they should have taken. They are then able to repeat the task
and improve their performance.

The company is exploring the use of VR training in
other similar operational areas.